The Oklahoma City Thunder might be the most complete team in the NBA and comfortably better than the Phoenix Suns, but that doesn’t mean you have to like it.
Rarely has it been so hard to have some level of appreciation for what looks like being a dynasty, and their Game 2 antics should have every neutral praying for an improbable Suns series victory.
Referee appears to give Booker tech after Caruso told him to
The Thunder’s likability took yet another hit in their Game 2 victory, with Alex Caruso appearing to tell referee James Williams to give Devin Booker a technical for… saving the ball from going out of bounds?
And then he actually did!
Booker is likely going to get a fine for his postgame comments on the matter, calling out the referee by name in a move rarely seen from players. Hard to think that is going to help him or his team as the series moves back to Phoenix.
Devin Booker receives a tech for saving this ball out of bounds on this play pic.twitter.com/OWGLaEZKg6
— Cage (@ridiculouscage) April 23, 2026
But that is just the level of annoyance the Thunder bring each night, and at this point it goes so far beyond the perceived foul-baiting by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
There are many different ways to play the game and “SGA” is going to go to the Hall of Fame one day. Yet there is something even more infuriating about his approach to the game even than James Harden when he was in his prime in Houston.
Really though the Thunder seem to complain about fouls on them frequently, while then playing a brand of physical basketball on the other end of the court that the referees are generally cool with letting them get away with.
All fans want is a fair and consistent whistle across both teams. Dillon Brooks is totally fine with letting both sides go at it because it suits his game well, but it feels like he and the Suns aren’t allowed to do what the Thunder can on any given possession.
This is not sour grapes, the Thunder are much the superior team and the Suns were never going to win this series, but the manner in which the defending champions go about their business is leaving a bad taste in the mouth of all of their opponents.
Not that they will care, “history is written by the winners” and all that, but appearing to have the clout to give Booker a technical foul for trying to keep the ball inbounds is going to do the Thunder and the NBA’s reputation no favors. This is supposed to be the playoffs after all.
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